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The episode had a good pace regarding how things work in ALO, as well as how Lifa and Kirito are interacting to each other.
It is good to see that ALO follows the usual stuff regarding faction centred MMO, leading to potential chaotic and wild PVP in any neutral field. That said, I was a bit more surprised how Kirito could wander in the sylph capital without any problem once Lifa logged out, but I guess he sort of got a "guest" status because of her?

On the other hand, Lifa's identity wasn't really a surprise, considering the seiyuu (Taketatsu Ayana) and the Ending, although I'm more and more concerned of a very likely scenario with a fake triangle, involving Suguha as Lifa, falling in love with Kirito, then utterly crushed once she learns that he is actually her brother. Frankly, I sure hope it won't be the case, but her flustered reaction as both Lifa and her normal selves indicate clearly there is already some seed of romance, which will lead to the very predictable ugly drama...

Meanwhile, Sugou is way too much the textbook "big bad villain", explaining his nefarious master plan with little to no actual thought of what could happen if Asuna does manage to get away (well, usual arrogance, I can give you that...). What is "interesting" is that pretty much lika SAO, interface are again in-game physical, which doesn't make much sense, programmation wise... Well, at least the code sequence was "crypted" for Asuna, but I suspect she can visually have an idea what was the passcode... that's quite a flimsy way in using security, whereas brains are literally jacked in the game, so brain waves would be a much more secure method (hell, even personal interface instead of in-game one).

Meanwhile, Sugou is way too much the textbook "big bad villain", explaining his nefarious master plan with little to no actual thought of what could happen if Asuna does manage to get away (well, usual arrogance, I can give you that...).

To be fair, if Asuna manages to get away, Sugou is fk'd regardless of what he did or didn't say to her.

There is a major difference: Sugou could potentially get away by just being fired and whatnot, assuming he screwed the logs and all. Meanwhile, showing himself personally in front of asuna and giving all the fine details just skyrocket his criminal charges by a very long shot.

Learning how to land is for noobs. Everybody knows that crash-landing is waaycooler. Especially when one crashes into a person or a building. I was kind of hoping Kirito would've gone through the wall of that building; but alas, it's not possible because of this world's in-game laws. :<

What is "interesting" is that pretty much lika SAO, interface are again in-game physical, which doesn't make much sense, programmation wise... Well, at least the code sequence was "crypted" for Asuna, but I suspect she can visually have an idea what was the passcode... that's quite a flimsy way in using security, whereas brains are literally jacked in the game, so brain waves would be a much more secure method (hell, even personal interface instead of in-game one).

Personally, I attribute this particular case mostly to a design blind spot. Programmers working to build a VR structure thinking in terms of mirroring real world structure and design, rather than taking full advantage of the additional opportunities allowed by VR.

The rest being the need for security, in that when you're holding someone against their will, you really don't want access to the location to be controlled through the normal menu interface. If it was, you'd be basically one configuration mistake or hack away from someone using an Amusphere to have "Titiania's Cage" on a list of locations they can teleport to, trying it out, and bam, Asuna's got someone they can't harm that she can send a message to the real world using.

There is a major difference: Sugou could potentially get away by just being fired and whatnot, assuming he screwed the logs and all. Meanwhile, showing himself personally in front of asuna and giving all the fine details just skyrocket his criminal charges by a very long shot.

Once an investigation happens, I doubt it's something even RECT can(or will even want to) cover up. Remember, there are 300 other people involved, it's not just Asuna.

I probably don't have as much to say about this week's episode as I sometimes do. The episode confirms a lot of what we were speculating about last week regarding the various game systems, and progresses the connection between Kirito and Lyfa (along with revealing Lyfa's real life identity... a not-very well kept secret to be sure). I also liked the role that Yui is playing here. The continued development of the world of ALO was quite fun.

I think people who dislike the "knight saving the princess" trope/motif will have a field day with this one, as Kirito's "hero complex" is on full display. (His joke at the start about him having rescued the princess Lyfa and wanting her to run into his arms is so... ) And likewise, although Asuna (Titania) is being observant (I think she probably caught most of that code, and now understands most of what's going on), she's in a position right now where she can't do much (yet?). Our villain remains comically over-confident, and not terribly bright, but obviously it works to our favour. He has the ability to change/insert memories, and is in every position where he could take Asuna by force... but he seems to want to defeat her will without "assistance" -- befitting an ego-maniac. (He may have all the technology to do whatever he wants, but the main thing he wants is for people to recognize him as being powerful on his own.) So just like he basically revealed his plan to Kazuto assuming he could do nothing to stop him, he reveals his whole plan to Asuna assuming the same. As Asuna asks "Are you insane?"... and yes, he basically is. It seems like marrying Asuna and taking over the family business are more items on his ego-checklist; Asuna's resistance makes him want the power trip of actually winning her over even more. (He says he doesn't want her as a doll, but he basically does -- he just wants the "satisfaction" of having her turn that way without him having "cheated".)

Should also say that I liked how the thing that triggered Lyfa's desire to help Kirito was when she looked in his eyes and saw the same look as she saw Kazuto give in real life. Obviously she doesn't realize what's going on yet, but to me it lent a bit of credibility as to why she might find herself drawn to him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klashikari

On the other hand, Lifa's identity wasn't really a surprise, considering the seiyuu (Taketatsu Ayana) and the Ending, although I'm more and more concerned of a very likely scenario with a fake triangle, involving Suguha as Lifa, falling in love with Kirito, then utterly crushed once she learns that he is actually her brother. Frankly, I sure hope it won't be the case, but her flustered reaction as both Lifa and her normal selves indicate clearly there is already some seed of romance, which will lead to the very predictable ugly drama...

Personally, I think the author won't be able to resist having Sugaha basically having her love thwarted twice by Asuna. I'd be personally shocked if this isn't a major theme here. I guess I'm a bit of a glutton for punishment for liking stories that feature heartbreak... but I'm not dreading it so much. (Of course, I don't know know what's going to happen, so novel readers please don't spoil me!!!!)

(Edit: Oh yeah, they also revealed in the episode that the game of ALO has been running for about a year, which means that it started before the people in SAO were set free. So that also answers some questions that were raised before.)

(Edit 2: I also almost forgot -- this is one of the only times in the whole show that they actually showed any perspective other than Kirito's for any extended period of time.)

Kirito one-hits players, OP status confirmed (again). Looks like the only way to stop him, is have him fly into a wall.

Suguha=Lyfa confirmed, but really, what are the chances for two family members to meet in a game with tens of thousands of players?
Lyfa is quite tall, it looks about the same height as Kirito and maybe taller than Recon?

Sugou, final boss confirmed. It's the classic villain speech, reveal everything about your grand master plan, then get a slap in the face by the hero. Since the author is the same, I wonder if Sugou, when his grand plan is foiled, will make a face like Noumi from AW?

This was a fun, straightforward episode. It revealed a lot of information, so this feels like the arc will blast straight through. So far, nothing seems too complex. It is very basic, by the book. Good guy, bad guy, and captive princess. Good guy goes save the captive princess from bad guy. And they live happily ever after. The end.

Well, we kind of know how things will be. It is now a matter of execution to determine if this will be entertaining or not, and so far, it has been entertaining.

Sugou is a jerk and ego-maniac antagonist, but so far, he is not as bad as the other psychotic bad guy in Reki Kawahara's other major work. Hence, I don't think the rage will be as bad in this one. Actually, Sugou seems more typical bad guy, so nothing shocking or surprising here.